Neurotransmitters & Psychoactive Drugs

Dopamine

movement, learning, attention, and emotion

Serotonin

mood, hunger, sleep, arousal

Norepinephrine

alertness and arousal

Glutamate

excitatory, memory

GABA

inhibitory; helps regulate anxiety and stress levels

Endorphins

influences perception of pain/pleasure

Substance P

pain perception and immune response

Acetylcholine

muscle action, learning, memory

Ghrelin

hunger-arousing hormone

Leptin

 hunger-suppressing hormone

Melatonin

sleep-inducing hormone in hypothalamus

Oxytocin

enables orgasm, labor contractions & milk flow (in women)

Adrenaline

“fight or flight” response, makes heartbeat faster, lungs breathe more

Stimulants

Caffeine & cocaine: increase neural activity

Depressants

Alcohol: decrease neural activity

Hallucinogens

Marijuana: distortions in perception/cognition

Opioids

Heroin: pain relievers